Computer Hardware PDF

1.1. Introduction to Computer What is a computer? A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You may already know that you can use a computer to type documents, send email, play games, and brow...

1.1. Introduction to Computer What is a computer? A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You may already know that you can use a computer to type documents, send email, play games, and browse the Web. You can also use it to edit or create spreadsheets, presentations, and even videos. 1.1.1. purpose of a computer The computer was invented in order to automate mathematical calculations that were previously completed by people. Charles Babbage is considered to be the ―father‖ of the computer. Computers do not have any one particular purpose. Instead, they are a tool that is meant to serve human beings in any way that we can think of. For example, we can use computers as a means of communication. We can use them to send email or for different internet services. 1.1.2. Hardware and Software Computer Components What is Computer Hardware? Several components in a computer working together are called hardware. It consists of mechanical devices such as a CPU, keyboard, mouse, speaker, monitor, printer, hard disk, and so on. All these devices can be touched and felt. There are a lot of hardware devices available but we need to select the right device with the correct specification to get the best performance results. All the devices vary in size, cost, and specification. We need to choose the compatible one. Hard ware devices are categorized in to Input devices, Output devices, Storage devices and internal components and this part is more discussed in the next topic which is called peripheral devices. Page 7 of 60 Ministry of Labor and Connecting Hardware Peripherals Version -1 Skills August, 2022 Author/Copyright  What is Computer Soft Ware? - Computer software helps the computer to perform the task using programs. It is generally a language that a computer understands. - Collection of instructions that enables a user to interact with the computer Types of software Major types of computer software are: - Application software - System software - Programming software - Driver software 1.1.3. Computer Classifications Classification of Computers according to Size, Type and Purpose We see many Computers nearby, but they all are different from each other. In this Module, we are going to know about the basics and classification of computers which included all the different types of computers. There are different classes of computer technology available these days. The functionality and data processing of each type of computer is different and output results as well. However, the methods or techniques, Size, capacity, characteristics, and data handling of the data of each computer may be different too. Let‘s Get to Know the ―What are the Classifications of Computers System“. We can classify the computers into the following 3 categories: - On the Basis of Size and Capacity, [Supercomputer, Mainframe, Mini, and Micro Computer]. - On the Basis of Purposes, [General and Special Purpose]. - On the Basis of Hardware Design and Type [Analog, Digital, and Hybrid Computer]. Page 8 of 60 Ministry of Labor and Connecting Hardware Peripherals Version -1 Skills August, 2022 Author/Copyright  Fig 1.1.3.1 classification of computers Page 9 of 60 Ministry of Labor and Connecting Hardware Peripherals Version -1 Skills August, 2022 Author/Copyright  1.2. Identifying client peripherals requirements Peripheral Devices Any device connected internally or externally to a computer system unit and used in the transfer of data as well as processing information is considered as peripheral devices. Any input, output or external storage device connected externally or internally communicate with the computer's processors is termed as peripherals. Examples are: monitor, keyboard, printer, disk, tape, graphics tablet, scanner, joy stick, paddle or mouse etc. Categories of Peripherals and Device Drivers Peripheral devices can be categorized in to three (3), Input device, Output devices and Internal and external storage devices. Input device - is a device that has been used as a means of input. It is any peripheral (piece of computer hardware equipment) used to provide data and control signals to an information processing system such as a computer or other information appliance. The common input devices are keyboard, mouse, and scanner.  Keyboard - The computer key board is used to input, or enter, letters, numbers, symbols, punctuations and commands into the computer. The standard keyboard layout is sometimes called QWERTY layout and it is the most common layout. Fig.1.2.1 Keyboard  Mouse or a pointing device is any human interface device that allows a user to input spatial data to a computer. In the case of mice and touch screens, this is usually achieved by detecting movement across a physical surface. Fig.1.2.2. Keyboard The most familiar type of mouse is Optical mouse and this kind of mouse utilizes light-emitting diodes (LED) or laser as a method of tracking movement. These mice are more proficient than other computer mice. These mice are easily identified by examining the bottom of the mouse. Page 10 of 60 Ministry of Labor and Connecting Hardware Peripherals Version -1 Skills August, 2022 Author/Copyright   Scanner is a device that can scan or digitize images on paper and convert them to data that the computer can use. They can then be stored in a file, displayed on the screen, added to documents, or manipulated. Fig.1.2.3. Scanner  Imaging and Video input Devices Video input devices are used to digitize images or video from the outside world into the computer. The information can be stored in a multitude of formats depending on the user's requirement. - Digital camera - Webcam - Image scanner - Fingerprint scanner - Barcode reader - 3D scanner - Laser rangefinder  Medical Imaging - Computed tomography - Magnetic resonance imaging - Positron emission tomography - Medical ultrasonography  Audio input devices In the fashion of video devices, audio devices are used to either capture or create sound. In some cases, an audio output device can be used as an input device, in order to capture produced sound. - Microphone - MIDI keyboard or other digital musical instrument Output Device An output device is any piece of computer hardware equipment used to communicate the results of data processing carried out by an information processing system (such as a computer) to the outside world. In computing, input/output, or I/O, refers to the communication between an information processing system (such as a computer), and the outside world. Inputs are the Page 11 of 60 Ministry of Labor and Connecting Hardware Peripherals Version -1 Skills August, 2022 Author/Copyright  signals or data sent to the system, and outputs are the signals or data sent by the system to the outside. Examples of output devices are:-  Printer In computing, a printer is a peripheral which produces a text and/or graphics of documents stored in electronic form, usually on physical print media such as paper or transparencies. Fig.1.2.4. Printer  Speakers Computer speakers range widely in quality and in price. The computer speakers typically packaged with computer systems are small, plastic, and have mediocre sound quality. Some computer speakers have equalization features such as bass and treble controls. Fig.1.2.5. Speaker Page 12 of 60 Ministry of Labor and Connecting Hardware Peripherals Version -1 Skills August, 2022 Author/Copyright   Headphones Headphones are a pair of small loudspeakers, or less commonly a single speaker, held close to a user's ears and connected to a signal source such as an audio amplifier, radio, CD player or portable media player. Fig.1.2.6. Headphone  Screen (Monitor):- A monitor or display (sometimes called a visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers. The monitor comprises the display device, circuitry, and an enclosure. The display device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) thin panel, while older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the screen size. The first computer monitors used Cathode ray tubes (CRTs), which was the dominant technology until they were replaced by LCD monitors in the 21st Century. Fig.1.2.7. Monitor Page 13 of 60 Ministry of Labor and Connecting Hardware Peripherals Version -1 Skills August, 2022 Author/Copyright  Storage devices Computer data storage, often called storage or memory, refers to computer components and recording media that retain digital data. Data storage is one of the core functions and fundamental components of computers. There are 3 types of storage devices:  Primary Storage – is also known as the main memory or a temporary storage device. It is fast in nature but can accommodate only few data. Data that has been stored in memory flushes off when you restart your computer, thus called temporary storage device. It is the only one directly accessible to the CPU. The CPU continuously reads instructions stored there and executes them as required. Any data actively operated on is also stored there in uniform manner. Fig.1.2.8. RAM  Secondary Storage – Secondary storage (also known as external memory or auxiliary storage), differs from primary storage in that it is not directly accessible by the CPU. The computer usually uses its input/output channels to access secondary storage and transfers the desired data using intermediate area in primary storage. Secondary storage does not lose the data when the device is powered down—it is non-volatile. Examples of a secondary storage device are Internal Hard drive, external Hard Drive, Flash Disk, CD/DVD, Floppy disk, Memory card.  Tertiary Storage - Tertiary storage or tertiary memory provides a third level of storage. Typically it involves a robotic mechanism which will mount (insert) and dismount removable mass storage media into a storage device according to the system's demands; this data is often copied to secondary storage before use. Fig.1.2.9. Removable Disks Page 14 of 60 Ministry of Labor and Connecting Hardware Peripherals Version -1 Skills August, 2022 Author/Copyright  Connectivity devices The majority of external peripheral devices connect to the back of the computer‘s system unit with cables and connectors. The computer‘s system unit has a variety of ports available for use by different peripheral device cables. A port is a socket that is used to connect the cables from peripheral devices to the computer or the position to plug peripheral devices.  Ports A port is an interface on a computer through which the device is communicate (send and receive data). Personal computers have various types of ports. Personal computers have ports for connecting Monitor/display, printer, mouse, keyboard, scanner, Removable disks and other peripheral devices. The types of ports are:- Fig.1.2.10. System Unit with different Ports  There are several types of ports like serial port, parallel port, USB port, AGP port, power supply port and so on.  Serial ports: is the oldest technology that is used to connect some types of mouse, keyboard, and other peripherals. As the name indicates, this port sends data serially that is one bit at a time. A serial port is also called male port since it consists of protruding pins. Its transfer rate is close to 10KBS data. Fig.1.2.11. Serial port Page 15 of 60 Ministry of Labor and Connecting Hardware Peripherals Version -1 Skills August, 2022 Author/Copyright   Parallel Ports: are used primarily for connecting printers to your system. Because of this it is called LPT (line print) port. It is also called female port since it consists of holes. Parallel ports generate speeds of 100KBS and reflect transfers 10 times faster than serial speeds. Fig.1.2.12. Parallel port  USB (Universal Serial Bus): USB is a high performance-networking standard based on serial bus architecture. Most new computers and associated peripheral devices like printers and scanners support USB. USB ports are used to connect just about any type of peripheral devices speed enhancements have greatly improved performance with USB 1.0 generating speeds at 14 MB/S and USB 2.0 attaining speeds of 480MB/S. Fig.1.2.13. USB VGA/ Video Graphics Array A Video Graphics Array (VGA) connector is a three-row 15-pin DE-15 connector. The 15-pin VGA connector is found on many video cards, computer monitors, and some television sets. On laptop computers or other small devices, a mini-VGA port is sometimes used in place of the full-sized VGA connector. Fig.1.2.16. VGA port and its Data Cable Page 16 of 60 Ministry of Labor and Connecting Hardware Peripherals Version -1 Skills August, 2022 Author/Copyright  NIC Port / Network Interface Card Alternatively referred to as an Ethernet port, the LAN port is a port connection that allows a computer to connect to a network using a wired connection. In the picture to the right, is a close up example of what a LAN port looks like for a network cable using an RJ-45 connector. In the case of this example, the two led lights will blink when that port is active and receiving activity. Fig.1.2.14. NIC Port Power Supply - A power supply is a device that supplies electrical energy to one or more electric loads. - It converts AC/alternate current to Dc/ Direct Current - Every power supply must obtain the energy it supplies to its load, as well as any energy it consumes while performing that task, from an energy source. Fig.1.2.15. Power Supply Device Drivers - Is a particular form of software application that allows one hardware device (such as a personal computer) to interact with another hardware device (such as a printer). A device driver may also be called a software driver. - Is a software program that allows the hardware device to talk to the operating system and create an interface between users and devices. Page 17 of 60 Ministry of Labor and Connecting Hardware Peripherals Version -1 Skills August, 2022 Author/Copyright